Gov’t to assist rice farmers affected by inclement weather

The Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has promised to assist rice farmers in Region Three (Essequibo Islands -West Demerara), who have been unable to harvest their crop due to the inclement weather conditions. Rainfall has caused major damage to the access roads into the areas, stopping the combine harvesters from entering the fields.

The Minister met with several of the farmers on Thursday as a follow-up visit to that of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, to discuss some of the issues faced in the area.

According to the Ministry, some of the rice crops have now past the specified harvesting date. Minister Mustapha told the farmers that the government was committed to increasing production and pledged to work along with them to see how best the paddy can be harvested.

He also told them that extension officers attached to the GRDB will be conducting daily assessments of all the affected plots, after which a decision will be made on how farmers can be assisted.

Minister Mustapha was accompanied by MoA Director General, Madanlall Ramraj; GRDB’s General Manager, Badrie Persaud; GRDB’s  Deputy General Manager, Kuldip Ragnauth, GLDA’s CEO(ag) Dr. Dwight Waldron and other regional and agency officials.